Claims
- 1. A process for producing an optical fiber comprising:
- maintaining an optical fiber within a hydrogen-containing atmosphere for sufficient time to yield a hydrogen-permeated optical fiber having an elevated internal hydrogen concentration; and,
- irradiating the hydrogen-permeated optical fiber at a time while the optical fiber has an elevated internal hydrogen concentration with a source of ionizing radiation.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the fiber is pre-irradiated with a dose up to 1000 kilorads of radiation.
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen-containing atmosphere has a hydrogen gas pressure of greater than one atmosphere and the optical fiber is maintained in the hydrogen-containing atmosphere for about 100 hours.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of optical fibers and more particularly to optical fibers having enhanced radiation resistance. This invention is the result of a contract with the Department of Energy (Contract No. W-7405-ENG-36).
US Referenced Citations (13)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
Nagasawa et al., "Improvement of Radiation Resistance of Pure Silica Core Fibers by Hydrogen Treatment" Japanise Jour. of Appl. Ply. vol. 24, No. 9, Sep., 1985. |
Lyons et al., SPIE Proceedings, vol. 1174, pp. 2-19, Sep., 1989. |